The Yakuza

The Yakuza (1974)

Runtime: 112 minutes

Directed by: Sydney Pollack

Starring: Robert Mitchum, Ken Takakura, Brian Keith, Herb Edelman, James Shigeta

From: Warner Brothers/Toei

I'll let the Letterboxd review below explain everything. I will return Sunday night.

I watched this film (Wednesday) night for a few reasons. I had known about it for a long time but I hadn't checked it out yet. It is currently on Warner Archive Instant. The pedigree involved with this is real nice. And, it features a pair of actors who unfortunately passed away in the past few months: James Shigeta and Ken Takakura. This is more than enough motivation to give it a viewing.

The movie is a serious mature tale about a private detective known as Harry Kilmer (Robert Mitchum) who is asked by friend Harry Tanner (Brian Keith) to go to Japan to rescue his daughter, who was kidnapped by some members of the Yakuza in a shady business deal gone wrong. It also allows Harry to visit old love Eiko, who he loved back when he was a soldier in post World War II Japan but they hadn't seen each other in years. Harry and Eiko's brother Ken (Takakura) don't get along due to events of the past, but Ken and his brother Goto (Shigeta) have to get involved with the situation.

This isn't an action-packed extravaganza but rather it's a deliberately paced drama where time is spent to explain Japanese traditions and how the Yakuza operates. This is not only done as presumably most Westerners were unfamiliar with such things 40 years ago but that's the key component of the film. It's not about the action (when you get it, it's violent and memorable), it's about relationships, following what is basically an old samurai code and people coming to acknowledge and respect each others different lifestyles.

There is an air of authenticity; the movie doesn't seem implausible or ridiculous. It turns out that Leonard Schrader (Paul's brother) came up with the story when he fled to avoid being drafted in the Vietnam war and he spent time in Japan hanging out with Yakuza characters. Paul Schrader and Robert Towne expanded the story and not surprisingly given their talents made it a quality script.

Along with the twists and turns (I was pretty surprised more than once by certain plot reveals) this is a film that likely should be better known given the talent involved and the great respect it gives to Japan and its culture. The fact that it's a co-production between Warner Brothers and Japan's Toei Studios was a key reason why but I now wish I would have seen this much sooner, as it's another 70's gem.